Dr. W. Randall Lolley

How do you go about describing a man like Randall Lolley? Maybe the best way is in his words; “I was a plain vanilla Alabama boy who made it half-way to the top of the country (North Carolina); and on the journey experienced some family things, some pastoral things, and some presidential things that molded and marked my life in Christ for eternity. Thanks everyone!”

Dr. Lolley wrote that he wanted to be remembered; “As a believer in Jesus Christ, who loved life, and served people as best he could; who now will enjoy life everlasting in the presence of my Saviour – Jesus”.

Vita-“Lock, stock, barrel, ramrod, and greasy rag”

William Randall Lolley was born in Troy, AL, June 2, 1931. He was the son of Roscoe Lee and Mary Nunnelee Lolley, both deceased. He was preceded in death by a sister, Juanita Harrison Kelly and a brother, the Rev. Tom Lolley. He was a graduate of Samson High School, Samson, AL and Howard College (now Samford University), Birmingham, AL. He received Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Southeastern Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, and a Doctor of Theology degree from Southwestern Seminary, Fort Worth, TX. Dr. Lolley received honorary degrees from Samford University (Doctor of Divinity), Wake Forest University (Doctor of Divinity), University of Richmond (Doctor of Divinity), Mercer University (Doctorate of Laws), and Campbell University (Doctor of Humane Letters).

While in college, he was pastor of churches at Good Hope, his home church, Troy, AL; Reece and Piney Grove near Samson, AL; and while in seminary at Pine Ridge and Poplar Springs Baptist Churches, Zebulon, NC. He was associate pastor, Broadway Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX. Following seminary, Dr. Lolley was pastor of First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC, First Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC, and First Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC.

He was president of his alma mater, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, 1974-1988. During the firestorm of conflict which enveloped the seminary in the late 1980’s, he was awarded the Alexander Meiklejohn Award by the American Association of University Professors for his defense of academic freedom.

Dr. Lolley was a trustee at Campbell University, Garner-Webb University, Meredith College, NC Baptist Retirement Homes, and the Baptist House of Studies at Duke Divinity School. He preached, taught, and lectured in churches and schools in 41 states. He traveled with his family and camped in every state of the United States, traveled to all seven continents, and visited over 118 countries around the world.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Clara Lou Jacobs Lolley-the love of his life; daughters Charlotte Murphy and her husband, Pat, Goldsboro, NC and Pam Frey and her husband, Mike, Raleigh, NC.

“Pop Pop” will be sorely missed by his two granddaughters; Kelly Strong and her husband, Tyler, and Kaitlin Driver and her husband, Tim, all living in Holly Springs, NC, and his three great-grandsons; Jacob, Connor, and Duncan.

Following a private, family graveside service, Dr. Lolley will be buried in “LA” (lower Alabama), where he grew up.

A Celebration of Life service for Dr. W. Randall Lolley will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 1:00pm in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, 1000 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC.

The family wishes to thank the many caregivers at The Cypress of Raleigh for their unwavering love and dedication to Dr. Lolley.

Memorial gifts can be made to: CBF Lolley Fund: cbfnc.org/LolleyFundGifts or WFU Lolley Fund: go.wfu.edu/lolleyfund/